Comment: Not unlikely amongst the biggest gems possible to present in a 'simple' ring. Avoiding overload or cluster, and to add balance, David has chosen a heavy crown, on fleur-de-lis base, designed horizontal to the aquamarine's length. This leaves not only an overall squarish impression to the ring's top-view but also a cubic shape to the whole head and gallery (though our images did not capture that effect fully, except for the one side-shot). Note also, the uncommonly wide and flat prongs which rise from the lowest base to the upper table of the gem, fitting and filling exactly onto the corners: a masterful work of precision especially with the extremely stubborn platinum. Eleven grams of the toughest metal worked around six grams of rarest untreated Santa Maria Aquamarine (plus a few glitters), all in UK balance and precision.

Comment: Even for an aquamarine, this is not a 'normal' size. A loupe clean, untreated, and gleaming crystal of intense bright pool-blue makes this gem a world-class rarity amongst all blue beryls a.k.a. aquamarines, from the same family as green emeralds, pink morganites and golden heliodors. Our images had to be shot indoors on a rainy London day in early spring, and so I hope you will forgive that we captured its color and brilliancy at the best angles. You can easily merge color, bright blue with the tiniest dash of green, from one image and the luster from another, full blast mirror, and you have the 'complete picture'. If you do need something to complain, focus on the sliver of a center window, though you will not notice it in person unless somebody pressed his nose against it, which is impossible in any setting. If you want to stay positive, remember that these near 30 carats of clean Santa Maria Aqua will rescue an acre of rainforest from the bulldozers and that this acre, and the gem, will maintain value for generations to come.